Posted on 05/26/2015 1:54:32 PM PDT by rickmichaels
Ever noticed how tomato juice tastes better on a plane?
Cornell University researchers say there's a scientific reason for that.
While tomato juice isn't the most popular beverage at, say, restaurants or parties, people tend to order a lot of it while flying.
In 2008, German airliner Lufthansa revealed that 27% of its customers order tomato juice, but 23% of those said they never buy it on the ground.
Turns out, the stuff actually tastes better in the air thanks to a combination of noise pollution and umami, a Japanese term for the sweet, savory tastes produced by amino acids.
"Our study confirmed that in an environment of loud noise, our sense of taste is compromised. Interestingly, this was specific to sweet and umami tastes, with sweet taste inhibited and umami taste significantly enhanced," Robin Dando, assistant professor of food science at Cornell, said in a press release.
Because of the vodka?
Funny that after pouring myself a tall glass of tomato juice and sitting down at the computer, this is the first article to appear.
I thought it would taste better in a glass.
i guess that means you are psychotic.
or is that psychic?
Damn you're fast, real fast!!!!!!!
You mean its not due to global warming?
I also think there is some “power of suggestion” going on, in airplanes. Most of us don’t normally think to order (or have at home) tomato juice, ginger ale, ? other choices that are offered when flying. But once you hear someone two rows ahead order tomato juice, there is this thought of “that sounds really good”.
TJ tastes better on aircraft because it keeps the throat moist in the cold/dry recirculated air environment.
Umami is what makes things taste meatier, so it makes sense tomato products would taste better. Lots of meat dishes can be enhanced by tomato paste, which helps bring out more meaty tastes.
Same with mushrooms too.
I think most people order something they don’t ordinarily have at home.
Hence tomato and ginger ale. (and Dr. Pepper and cranberry juice).
Most people have colas and orange juice at home.
“Because of the vodka?”
I love FReepers!
That was my first thought also.
I’ve recently taken to having tomato juice when having breakfast away from home. Most orange juices are too much acid but tomato seems just right for my tastes. Add in a little Tabasco for an extra wake-up kick!!
Well it is hard and messy to drink it out of a Tomato.
Well now Ma...with a salt shaker, this old hand don’t mind tomato juice out of a tomato;-)
“Funny that after pouring myself a tall glass of tomato juice and sitting down at the computer, this is the first article to appear.”
You are lucky the first thread didn’t have a photo of Hillary ...
Was this a taxpayer-funded study?
I really like Sacramento brand tomato juice but i can never seem to find it anymore.
Bingo!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.